Bachelor Thesis Prelude to Islamic extremism -a study of radicalization among Muslims in Sweden and the effects of Islamophobia Author: Lisa Algotsson Supervisor: Lennart Wohlgemuth Examiner: Christopher High Term: Spring 2019 Subject: Peace and Development Level: Bachelor Course code: 2FU33E Abstract Algotsson, L. Prelude to Islamic extremism – Bachelor thesis in Peace and Development, 15 Credits, Linnaeus University, 2019. On 27 April 2017 Sweden was struck by an Islamic terrorist attack which with various terrorist attacks in Europe, lead to increased Islamophobia and far- right populism in the country. This has seemingly led to Swedes becoming more prone to believe Islamophobic conspiracy theories. Such as the notion that Muslims are terrorists and Islam a violent religion from which terrorism springs to life. This twisted perception and further Islamophobia can lead to Muslims being perceived as a potential threat, due to being associated with terrorism. Since radicalization has been linked to social alienation and discrimination, the concern regarding increased Islamophobia in Sweden and what consequences it has on radicalization among Muslims in Sweden is warranted. Islamophobia is a form of discrimination against Muslims, but research regarding radicalization has not fully integrated the concept of Islamophobia with Islamic terrorism and its radicalization. This despite the increase of global Islamophobia and the witnessed increase of Islamic terrorism in forms of [Western] foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs), as well as home-grown cells and planned lone wolf attacks in recent years, which all indicate a potential increase in Islamic radicalization. As Islamophobia, far-right populism and extremist sentiments are growing in Sweden, this thesis presents a desk study through a qualitative text analysis, to investigate how the current climate and development affects Muslims in Sweden, and whether they are excluded as a result to presumably enhance national security. This is done through an abductive approach with an analytical framework focused on radicalization processes and the perspectives of inclusion and exclusion. The potential correlation between Islamophobia and radicalization among Muslims, where Sweden is used as an example to exemplify the consequences of Islamophobia regarding Islamic radicalization and security through exclusion contra development through inclusion is presented in this desk study. Key words: Islamophobia, Muslims, radicalization, terrorism, violent extremism, Islam, inclusion, exclusion, security, Sweden Table of contents 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction and research problem .......................................................... 1 1.1.1 Research problem ............................................................................... 3 1.2 Relevance and justification ....................................................................... 4 1.3 Research objective ..................................................................................... 5 1.4 Research questions .................................................................................... 6 2. Theoretical approach ....................................................................................... 7 2.1 Radicalization, extremists and terrorists .................................................. 7 2.2 Radicalization processes .......................................................................... 10 2.3 Exclusion and inclusion .......................................................................... 12 2.4 The Security-Development Nexus and Biopolitics ................................. 14 2.5 Utilization as theoretical framework....................................................... 16 3. Methodology ................................................................................................... 17 3.1 Research method ..................................................................................... 17 3.2 Research design ....................................................................................... 20 3.3 Limitations ............................................................................................... 20 3.4 Delimitations ............................................................................................ 20 4. Findings ........................................................................................................... 22 4.1 What is Islamophobia? ............................................................................ 22 4.2 Consequences of Islamophobia .............................................................. 24 4.3 Islamophobia and anti-Semitism ............................................................ 26 4.4 Conspiracy theories ................................................................................. 27 4.5 Islamophobia and the far-right ............................................................... 30 4.6 Liberal and social democratic- Islamophobia ........................................ 31 4.7 Islamophobia on the rise ......................................................................... 34 4.7.1 The Swedish narrative ...................................................................... 37 4.8 Increased Islamic radicalization ............................................................. 39 4.8.1 The Swedish narrative ...................................................................... 43 5. Analysis ........................................................................................................... 46 5.1 Is there a link between increased Islamophobia and increased Islamic radicalization? ..................................................................................................... 46 5.2 Are Muslims in Sweden more prone to being radicalized into Islamic violent extremism and terrorism due to perceived Islamophobia? .................... 49 5.3 Are Muslims in Sweden excluded in the society to enhance Sweden’s security against Islamic violent extremism and terrorism, with the use of Islamophobia? If so, does it enhance Sweden’s security or jeopardize it against Islamic violent extremism and terrorism? .......................................................... 51 6. Conclusions and recommendations .............................................................. 56 References ............................................................................................................... 59 Appendix 1 – mind-map ........................................................................................ 64 Abbreviations CNCDH – the French National Human Rights Commission DPP – the Danish People’s Party FTFs – Foreign terrorist fighters IS – the Islamic State UN – United Nations 1. Introduction 1.1 Introduction and research problem On 27 April 2017, Sweden suffered what’s considered its first completed Islamic terrorist attack, and further arrests related to a planned Islamic terrorist attack in 2019 shocked the country. Swedish citizens have travelled to Syria and Iraq in order to join IS and other Islamic terrorist organizations. But attacks on Swedish soil has so far been limited (Säkerhetspolisen 2018, p 63). The events in 2017 and onwards, together with various terrorist attacks in Europe, have created room for Islamophobic sentiments and far-right populism to grow also in Sweden. As can be seen in the Swedish Democrats’ electoral success, and the increased gusto and influence from far-right extremists (Säkerhetspolisen 2018, p. 59-65; SVT 2018). Noticeably, Sweden is no longer spared from the wave of nationalistic far-right populism and political polarization seen all over Europe. The fear of Islamic terrorism has been continuously used by far-right populists to enforce their political agenda. But the terrorist attack in Paris 13 November 2015, accompanied by the migration crisis the same year, furthered the fear and legitimized the perception that Muslims are terrorist and posing as refugees to sneak into European countries to commit terrorism (Lean 2017). Islamic terrorism has been at the center of media and academic attention since the 9/11 attack on World Trade Center in New York. As a result, research has given insight into Islamic radicalization, where strong linkages between social alienation and discrimination to radicalization have been established (Sageman 2004; Bhui et al 2012, p. 4-7; Sajoo 2016, p. 31). There are historical indications of how anti-Semitism lead to minor acts of Jewish violence prior to WW2, which in turn can mean that discrimination such as anti-Semitism and Islamophobia can lead to radicalization within the afflicted group (Saunders 2012, p. 135-136). This indicates that Islamic radicalization 1 presumably is affected by Islamophobia. However available research regarding radicalization has so far not applied the concept of Islamophobia to investigate how radicalization among Muslims is affected by it, and whether a correlation exists. It is no secret that Muslims face an increasing level of discrimination in today’s global society, with the terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand 2019 being a clear indication of its severity. Since the rise of Islamophobia in Sweden has seemingly followed the global trend, the question of how it affects Muslims in Sweden should be considered. With IS on the defensive all through 2018 the recruitment/radicalization to the organization decreased and there were